Would you go for a scan at this late stage for reassurance? (includes reference to termination)

[hobbgoblin]

Because I had the first stage of a medical TOP - specifically a 200 mg dose of Mifepristone at 9 weeks - but changed my mind and have been fortunate enough to continue with a viable pregnancy until now, 29 weeks...I have naturally been extremely worried about my baby not making it all the way.

I have Placenta Praevia so the birth is fairly imminent, either in the next 11 weeks or so or possibly if the Praevia causes early delivery in as little as 6 or 7 weeks via section.

There are no more checks apart from scans for the Praevia, the anomaly was fine. Do you think it's worth paying for a detailed private scan jsut in case?

Depends what you plan to do with the information you get. Baby could be fine, or it may not. If it is not, what would you do? Do you feel you;d need to be prepared for that eventuality?

I would pay for a private scan personally.

I am absolutely terrified that because of the Praevia I'll have to have a C section under GA (likely) and that when I come round my friend is going to have to tell me he is dead or seriously malformed or something. The only condition known to be directly related to preganncy after failed TOP seems to Mobius syndrome but there is little evidence on the whole area.

I just want to be as prepared as possible for the worst. I am absolutely not one of those people who rathers not knowing until the last minute, I like advance detailed warning of any situation I am faced with. I'm just too control freakish and it is my coping mechanism to know the worst in order to cope.

If I had the money I would pay for the scan. Just to put my mind at rest and allow me to enjoy the rest of my pregnancy.

Good Luck

It sounds like you have answered your own question.

Do it.

Any thoughts on where to go for a general but comprehensive check late in pregnancy, a bit like a late, detailed anomaly?

if you can get to London go to the FMC

foetal medicine centre

or lots of NHS obstetricians do private work, and there are foetal medicine clinics at NHS hospitals.

might be worht contacting your local unit and asking

presuming all your other scans etc have been ok>? is the syndrome one that might be visible now, if it was not then?

I would proceed carefully, at least find out what they can tell you for sure before you go for the scan. Scans often can't tell you definite information, just some maybe's, And they can never tell you your baby is fine (unless you are looking for something very specific which can always be seen on a scan - but something falling into that category would be very rare). Also anomaly scans can only be carried out at certain stages of pregancy, so you may not be able to get the info you need anyway. Not saying don't do it, but saying be careful you don't get in more of a mess and more worried than you were before with no clear answers iyswim.

I do have experience of having to wait and see whether a child (two actually) had a severe disability and found the easiest way to do that was just to refuse to think about it until I knew I would have a definite course of action I could follow. Sort of switched of the pointless couldn't do anything about it worry.

Good luck.

FMCis excellent and very thorough. Well worth getting to if you can.

did you not have a 20 week scan?

Yes, I had 20 week scan but reading here I don't think it is as comprehensive with NHS as it could be. I could be wrong.

FMC is a possibility, but unsure of costs accordign to their fees info.

Probably best to call them and discuss - then they can give you a definite price

Would you believe the scan if it showed that all appeared fine?

I remember your first thread, so glad things are going well.

No scan will give you every answer or fully put your mind at rest. My dd was born with some deformaty and the peadiatrician thought that a rare genetic syndrome was a posiblity, no scan would have picked up the deformaty (she had very broad big toes) and there was nothing to do but wait and see.

I called my dearest friend who is a peadiatric nurse, told her how worried I was, waiting for a genetics appointment, not knowing any answers, she reeled off a list of complications that affect children in later life and asked if I was going to concern myself about those too? Her point being that you can worry about everything and you will drive yourself mad or you can assume everything will be fine until you find out otherwise.

I understand why you are worried, but I would really be concerned that a scan would throw up questions rather than reassure will worry you more. No one can promise you a perfect baby but it seems that you have a very good chance of delivering a normal healthy child.

agree with Wonderstuff and MrsT - that a scan may not for whatever reason give you the reassurance you want. I would speak to your NHS caregivers about your concerns, and if you still feel you want an extra scan, see if they are willing to squeeze in an extra scan.